This content was last updated in June 2026, and represents the status quo as of the time it was written. Google's security policies and systems may change going forward, as we continually improve protection for our customers.
Google's highest priority is to maintain a safe and secure environment for customer data. To help protect customer data, we run an industry-leading information security operation that combines stringent processes, an expert incident response team, and multi-layered information security and privacy infrastructure. This document explains our principled approach to managing and responding to data incidents in Google Cloud.
The Cloud Data Processing Addendum defines a data incident as “a breach of Google’s security leading to the accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorized disclosure of, or access to, Customer Data on systems managed by or otherwise controlled by Google.” While we take steps to address foreseeable threats to data and systems, data incidents don't include unsuccessful attempts or activities that don't compromise the security of customer data. For example, unsuccessful login attempts, pings, port scans, denial of service attacks, and other network attacks on firewalls or networked systems don't qualify as data incidents.
Incident response is a key aspect of our overall security and privacy program. We have a rigorous process for managing data incidents. This process specifies actions, escalations, mitigation, resolution, and notification of any incidents that impact the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of customer data.
To learn more about how we secure Google Cloud, see the Infrastructure security design overview and Google Cloud security.
Data incident response
Our incident response program is managed by teams of expert incident responders across many specialized functions to ensure each response is well-tailored to the challenges presented by each incident. Depending on the nature of the incident, the professional response team might include experts from the following teams:
- Specialized incident response teams, including a machine-learning incident response team
- Product engineering
- Site reliability engineering
- Cloud security
- Digital forensics
- Detection and response
- Security, privacy, and product counsel
- Security response operations
- Privacy and trust response
- Trust and safety
- Cloud Customer Care
Experts from these teams are engaged in a variety of ways. For example, incident commanders coordinate incident response and, when needed, the digital forensics team performs forensic investigations and tracks ongoing attacks. Product engineers work to limit the impact on customers and provide solutions to fix the affected products. Counsel works with members of the appropriate security and privacy team to implement Google’s strategy on evidence collection, engage with law enforcement and government regulators, and advise on legal issues and requirements. Customer Care responds to customer inquiries and requests for additional information and assistance.
Team organization
When we declare an incident, we designate an incident commander who coordinates incident response and resolution. The incident commander selects specialists from different teams and forms a response team. The incident commander delegates the responsibility for managing different aspects of the incident to these experts and manages the incident from the moment of declaration to closure. The following diagram depicts an example organization of various roles and their responsibilities during incident response. Depending on the type of incident, different roles might be assigned.
